There’s no sense in playing it cool anymore, Illinois fans. Start dreaming about that perfect season.
To do anything less would chill the excitement of being one of three teams to enter the final week of January with an unblemished record.
But understand that while the 19-0 Illini are the nation’s No. 1 team for the eighth straight week, they aren’t even halfway there and play Tuesday at No. 18 Wisconsin, winners of 38 straight home games.
For perfection to occur, Illinois must survive 11 Big Ten games, a Big Ten tournament, and another wild NCAA tournament to win the school’s first national title.
So, dream on.
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20-0
Tuesday: At Wisconsin
Dream sequence: Tough road game lives up to its billing but Dee Brown scores 38 points to end the Badgers’ home winning streak.
Final: Illinois 72, Wisconsin 71
21-0
Saturday: Minnesota
A breather after consecutive nail-biters. Even Nick Smith smiles.
Illinois 66, Minnesota 48
22-0
Feb. 1: At Michigan State
Luther Head’s 50-foot desperation heave wins it as Spartan fans storm the court prematurely.
Illinois 93, Michigan State 92 (OT)
23-0
Feb. 6: Indiana
Illini take no pleasure in seeing Mike Davis fired 10 minutes after the buzzer. OK, some pleasure.
Illinois 83, Indiana 43
24-0
Feb. 8: At Michigan
Illinois’ 1989 Final Four starting five attend and vote unanimously that they were not as good as the current Illini team.
Illinois 78, Michigan 58
25-0
Feb. 12: Wisconsin
Still sore from Jan. 25, Badgers come out throwing elbows. Four starters are ejected by halftime.
Illinois 60, Wisconsin 32
26-0
Feb. 16: At Penn State
Little-used reserve Fred Nkemdi explodes for eight points and four rebounds in 12 minutes as the starters rest up for the showdown at Iowa.
Illinois 73, Penn State 55
27-0
Feb. 19: At Iowa
Hawkeyes gang up on Luther Head, who scored 25 points in the first win. Head scores 25 points again and hits the game-winning layup with 3.8 seconds left.
Illinois 56, Iowa 54
28-0
Feb. 23: Northwestern
James Augustine vows to stop shaving his head until Illinois loses, Illini fans show up at games wearing “stubbleheads.”
Illinois 54, Northwestern 41
29-0
March 1: Purdue
Gene Keady goes down fighting in his last game at Champaign. The Stubbleheads give Keady the standing O.
Illinois 63, Purdue 61
30-0
March 5: At Ohio State
Illini win No. 30 by 30.
Illinois 70, Ohio State 40
Big 10 tournament
31-0
March 10: Quarterfinal vs.
Northwestern (in Chicago)
Illinois survives when
Nick Smith inadvertently blocks a potential
game-winner with his head.
Illinois 52, NU 51
32-0
March 11: Semifinal vs. Michigan State (in
Chicago)
Seven players score 11 points and grab seven rebounds in a remarkable show of depth.
Illinois 77, Michigan State 70
33-0
March 12: Final vs. Wisconsin (in Chicago)
After Deron Williams’ three-pointer at the buzzer. Fans storm the floor chanting “39-0! 39-0!”
Illinois 60, Wisconsin 59
NCAA tournament
34-0
First round (in Indianapolis)
Upset fears are put to rest when Illini start with a 34-0 run.
Illinois 106, Austin Peay 43
35-0
Second round (in Indianapolis)
UNLV coach Lon Kruger is asked if he regrets taking $10 million to leave Illinois for the NBA. Replies Kruger: “Are you nuts?”
Illinois 99, UNLV 61
36-0
Regional semifinal (in Chicago)
Bruce Weber openly weeps after beating his former team. Turns out he stubbed his toe.
Illinois 87, Southern Illinois 58
37-0
Regional final (in Chicago)
Sean Higgins leaves in tears.
Illinois 83, Michigan 81
38-0
National semifinal (in St. Louis)
Outstanding matchup with a game-deciding technical foul called on Bill Self for sitting on the wrong bench after a timeout.
Illinois 78, Kansas 77
39-0
National title (in St. Louis)
Illini win a battle of the unbeatens when Head catches a half-court pass from Dee Brown with 4.3 seconds and nails a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Illinois 93, Duke 91
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Edited by Chris Malcolm (ccmalcolm@tribune.com) and alBerto Trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
